Fairest Lord Jesus

 

Since Jesus Came Into My Heart

 

The Old Rugged Cross

This is the most amazing piano version of “The Old Rugged Cross” that I have heard. How I wish I can play the hymn the same way but I am not in that level of excellence. It has helped me meditate upon the message of the cross. The love of God so great that He has given his life on the cross that we might all be saved….

 

People Need The Lord

Only God can give the peace and security that we try to look often at the wrong places. Only He can give us the grace to survive the struggles that we face in each day that passes and we ought to share that peace that we have received by His grace and love through Christ.

May the message of this song encourage us to share the love of Christ that we have received when we have received Him as our Lord and personal Savior because people need the Lord.

 

Mary Did You Know?

This is one great pianist I have seen in You Tube. Great musicians help worshipers have prayerful meditations at home, in church and anywhere we can get a chance to listen.

Just like how David’s music with his lyre soothes the spirit of King Saul whenever an evil spirit torments him. The power of God moves through such instrumentalists who have given themselves in the service of the Almighty King! The power of God manifests in them not because they are good perse, but because the God they serve is good all the time!

 

God Is Great

This is another great praise song unto the Lord of hosts. We have been singing this song in church for our praise and worship for several weeks already although we are still perfecting our rendition.

The song speaks so much of God’s glory and of how the whole world shall bow before Him in worship and in praise. It seems to speak of the future when all the nations shall rise to worship the Almighty God before His heavenly throne.

May we all be blessed as we listen and sing along with the song, God Is Great! Shall we all say, Amen!

 

I Can Only Imagine by Mercy Me

The other song we would be singing in the retreat is “I Can Only Imagine” by Mercy Me. It is also a moving song as it speaks of the mystery of being with the Lord finally. We do not know what would happen then, what we could be doing when it happens. Shall we talk to Jesus when we see Him face to face? Shall we kneel before His feet?

Indeed, it remains to be a mystery and can only imagine what would that day be. What is sure is that it would be a joyous and glorious day that is beyond description. I just can’t wait at all….

 

You’ll Come by Hillsong

One of our speakers in our forthcoming retreat requested the band to sing two songs. One is “You’ll Come” by Hillsong. I sought it out in You Tube to learn the song. I found the You Tube video version of it from the Hillsong chapel.

It speaks of a believer’s faith in Jesus, a faithful anticipation of His return and it is sure as the sun will shine and the dawn will appear. Jesus will break all chains, heal lives, open all eyes as He reveals Himself.

We will not be shaken because our Lord will come for us.

 

“I Receive” by Israel Houghton

I have been trying to look for a song that I can use for our praise and worship teams’ spiritual retreat this coming October 25-26, 2011 at out church main sanctuary. I have been tyring to find a song that would fit our theme- “Experiencing God’s Power through Music”.

I could not find a song with lyrics about experiencing God’s power in You Tube but I have told myself perhaps I could find a song that would help explain what the theme says.

After several clicks and views, I have come across this song “I Receive” by Israel Houghton. I have found a video that looks like a small worship gathering and I have watched it.

The song speaks of receiving God’s love by grace at the cross and it has redeemed us from sin and has transformed us from within. Indeed, if we understand this truth by heart we can experience the power from God that saves and transforms. In that way, we too can receive the power to share that power unto others that they too might experience the power of God’s love in their lives.

I have tried to look for a lyric and chord sheet of the song in the net but there’s none so I have decided to buy a music sheet notation of the song from Musicnotes.com. I cannot share the sheet here because it’s patented but I would like to share the song here from the You Tube video that I have watched. Hope you will be blessed as well.

 

Sing a New Song unto the Lord- Psalm 98- Part II

Now, we can take this command sing a new song, one figuratively. “Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, [and] his praise in the congregation of saint.” -Psalm 149:1 KJV. We sing a new song even when we sing an old familiar tune when we sing out a new fresh encounter with the Lord, when we experience a new touch of God’s faithfulness in our lives. It is a new song in our hearts, a new expression of thanksgiving, praise and worship unto the Lord. Even an old song becomes a new song when the singing is born out of a new desire to praise the Lord.

Second, we can take it literally. “Sing unto him a new song; play skillfully with a loud noise.” -Psalm 33:3 KJV. This Psalm speaks of making beautiful songs unto the Lord. Singing the same songs over and over may become too monotonous. It would seem like there is no improvement from singers and instrumentalists. It does not necessarily mean that the song would lose its meaning but people might get bored and perceive it as lack or preparation. Therefore, we need to create new repertoire.

With the praise and worship, as far as I know we have the freedom to choose the songs that we want to sing but freedom is not absolute. We need to employ the proper songs.

Principles to Consider:

We sing to the Lord and not to people but we need to lead the people to sing with songs that they can sing because our task is to lead the people to a meaningful worship experience. Consider your congregation.

As much as possible, let us keep the arrangement simple for the congregation. There is beauty in simplicity but simplicity does not mean mediocrity. In this area, excellence might not always be visible or perceivable because it is the work of the Holy Spirit.

Technical improvements will follow. Just offer your best and the Lord will increase the ability.